av8ffej Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Hello all, and thank you to everyone for all your help! Out of the shadows and into the threads... For years, I have wanted to start a reef tank, and recently have decided to do it. I have been researching my future foray into my nano for the past few months and lurking on this site for almonst a month. I’ve gone from confusion, to lost, back to confusion and now am feeling semi-versed. Reading in here 2-3 hours each day helps – sorta. What I want to keep (read: “down the road” after each) - LPS and possibly SPS Clam Scallop Zoas Mushrooms Shrimp – gotta have shrimp 2-3 fish (undecided – no tangs!) Cleaner crew Anything that waves in the water The tank will go into a downstairs room – stable 67 degrees year round, no real light to speak of. So after weighing all the choices and shopping at every online store, I went to a little known LFS in North Seattle – A Red Sea Aquarium – and the guys that run it are awesome! I ran my thoughts and future Aquafriend picks by them and they actually told me that all the gizmos that I was planning on getting were a bit much. Basically “Settle down Tiger.” This was refreshing after reading all the talk about LFS’ trying to wring people out. After some discussion they told me to go back to the drawing board and find an AP 24 online and come back to look at the livestock options. So I went back… to buy the tank from them on a price match. They told me to go buy it online, because it’s on backorder for a month or more! So here’s what I have purchased: * AP 24 w/150MH * Biocube 29 stand. (That AP 24 stand looks like crap.) * Mighty-Mite RO/DI * Maxijet 1200 * Hydor Theo 100w heater * Hanna Ph tester * Refractometer * Calibration Fluid (Ph & Refrac) * API Reef test kit What I plan on getting this weekend: Protein skimmer (not sure which one yet) Live sand Thermometer – alcohol Separate bucket & heater for WC Timer Water from LFS 35lbs LR 4 weeks of patience Now the questions: 1. What am I missing? 2. What kind of live sand? Are they all pretty much the same? 3. What would be the simplest (most pragmatic) timer/controller to go with? 4. What kind of glass cleaner? Algae pads, magnet? I am resisting the desire to geek out and spend crazy amounts of money on all of the cool equipment that goes along with this, but I'm sure that time will wear me down... Once again, thank you to each and every one of you for your help! As this process unfolds, I’ll update you so you can track my progress. This could qualify as high entertainment. Link to comment
matty0206 Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 I think you have one of the more comprehensive plans of any "new to saltwater" threads I have read! It all sounds good to me. The golden rules 1)Be patient 2)Research anything you want before you buy and 3)If your going to put it in your water test for it! As far as live sand you can buy either dead bagged sand and seed it or buy all live from your lfs if they have it. The acjr controller I hear is a good one for small tanks, but I have never used it. I would use a mag float or buy The Nimble that jeromec sells here on nano-reef! Start a tank thread and ask questions along the way! Oh and as far as the skimmer goes alot of people seem to use the tunze 9002 and seem to like it, but once again I have never used it! Matt Link to comment
Tbone675 Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 might want to do a auto top off. lots of evap with a MH open top. Link to comment
HankB Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 to N-R Most everything sounds good. I'll list exceptions below. I have two API test kits - Saltwater Master and Reef Master to provide coverage for: - pH - nitrate, ammonia and nitrites (3 distinct tests, but they all evaluate the nitrogen cycle) - calcium - KH (Alkalinity) - phosphate I think you will want all of these with the possible exception of phosphate. I'm not sure how important that is. For water transfer from a 5G bucket, I like a transfer pump. I also use it to mix the S/W in the bucket. I'm using a Quiet One 1200 but there are others that will work as well. I have a bunch of thermometers so I can cross check. If you have two and they don't agree, which one is right? Get at least three. Don't get three of the same kind in case there was a problem with manufacturing. They could all have the same defect. We have a Nimble Nano magnet cleaner. I might supplement it with a Mag Float which seems to have stronger magnets. (Or see if there is a Nimble Nano that has stronger magnets.) What about a quarantine tank? A 5 or 10 gallon would probably suffice. Good info about that here: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/...ature/index.php and http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...p;#entry1600227 You might need more than 4 weeks worth of patience. HTH, hank Link to comment
cfeist Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 I agree with Tbone. I have your same setup and I have tons of evap, especially after adding a fan to blow on the surface to keep the water stable and avoid buying a chiller at the moment. You will be topping off a lot with an open hood and 150w halides trust me. The JBJ ATO is the best money i've spent so far next to the Mighty Mite which I see you already have listed. You could probably hold off on the skimmer or not even have one unless you venture into SPS later on IMO. Link to comment
MiddReef Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 I second what the above NR brain trust had added....and I will say that it's awesome that you're planning your tank so well. It seems like a majority of people get livestock and then upgrade their system accordingly, and it's refreshing to see somebody do it in the other (far more correct!) manner. Keep up the great work, the 150 W sunpod is a great fixture, I'm just figuring out all the nuances of my own! Good luck, give us some pictures once you get her up and running! Link to comment
av8ffej Posted May 30, 2008 Author Share Posted May 30, 2008 Thank you all for your great feedback!! After spending as much time as I have reading “I want one – tell me what to get” and then seeing them spend double the price in three months to upgrade because they killed the $125 clam, I have become bound and determined to not be that person. It astounds me that in an endeavor that take the patience of Job (or you shouldn’t be doing it) that you wouldn’t expend the energy to research it… One thing that I’ve taken away is that it takes a ton of reading and research to filter all of the opinions and pick out the common threads. {climbs off soapbox} So to address all of your terrific feedback – Sand – Not a huge concern, get something decent, cycle tank ATO – Must have. I was thinking this as well. I’m just a little leery of the JBJ because I have read reviews like yours cfeist – glowing – and others that say it is horrid. I can’t seem to get a happy medium on that one. I was looking at the SpecraPure, and MarineDepot has it at a really reasonable price, but I can’t seem to find any reviews/posts on it – possibly obscured because of their RO systems. http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idproduct~SP5113.html Magnet cleaner – Sounds like a great chance to support our community so I ordered a Nimble. Thanks Matty et. al. for the tip. Just so no one has to go searching: http://nimblenano.com/ Test kit – Have the Reef master, will pick up the Salt Master kit. Thanks for the reminder Hank, and I’ll be sure to get a gaggle of thermometers as well. Good advice. As for the transfer from the bucket to the tank, I was thinking about using the stock 290gph pump on the AP to use for mixing the water change and possibly for the ATO. The idea was to use that pump for something since I have it anyway. Is this just crazy talk? Oh, and the quarantine tank! Thanks for the link Hank. I had thought about that one, and I’ve been waiting for my roommate to inadvertently polish off his last remaining fish in a ten gallon so that I can abscond with it (the tank, not the fish). The poor thing is almost two and I’m surprised it’s made it this far. The prevailing wisdom with him is that fish aren’t particular about temperature so if the water “feels like the right temperature” it must be ok. The other five fish voted with mortality that it might be more noteworthy. I’ll just go buy the tank and stuff. I hope that I'm taking away what you all intended.... Thank you all for your great points! I’ll keep you posted. Link to comment
matty0206 Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 I believe that you my friend will go far in this hobby! Keep us posted! Oh and the most important thing=Happy Reefing! Link to comment
av8ffej Posted May 30, 2008 Author Share Posted May 30, 2008 I believe that you my friend will go far in this hobby! Keep us posted! Oh and the most important thing=Happy Reefing! Thanks Matty! I'm just happy talking tanks, I'm not sure that I'm going to be able to contain myself when this thing shows up...! Link to comment
jacklmd Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 i think 35lb of LR is kinda too much for a 24g nano maybe around 15lb LR will be fine.. and u don't have to wait for 4 weeks. maybe 1 week will be ok, cuz i add my fish and couple corals during the 3rd day, and they all very healthy. 20lb of LS will be fine... just make sure ur lights is off during ur first 4 weeks, "if u r not going to put corals inside"... and add lots of B-ionic..."calcium" and "biological bacterias"... get a damsal first, test the water. i bought a damsal with the tank, and he is really health now. but i gave it away because i don't like the look... u should buy one too... its like $3. Link to comment
therupert Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 i think 35lb of LR is kinda too much for a 24g nanomaybe around 15lb LR will be fine.. and u don't have to wait for 4 weeks. maybe 1 week will be ok, cuz i add my fish and couple corals during the 3rd day, and they all very healthy. 20lb of LS will be fine... just make sure ur lights is off during ur first 4 weeks, "if u r not going to put corals inside"... and add lots of B-ionic..."calcium" and "biological bacterias"... get a damsal first, test the water. i bought a damsal with the tank, and he is really health now. but i gave it away because i don't like the look... u should buy one too... its like $3. Link to comment
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